The Comic Book Thread

[Gamerforlife]

JLA:Tower of Babel is a great story that features Ra's al Ghul taking on the league. The way Batman fits into the story is very cool. Awesome cover on the trade paperback too. Check it out:

Great story! And it gave me hope that JLA would still be a great book after Morrison's departure from it. Unfortunately, that was the last great JLA storyarc until the Crime Syndicate story like 50 issues later.

And the story really made you see just how incredibly skilled, smart, and obsessed Batman really is.

Totally agree with you. I think it was excellent the way they used Ra's as well and I like how his complicated relationship with Batman was used in the story. I really view him and the Joker as Batman's greatest enemies, which is another reason I love the Batman:Under the Red Hood movie. It really showed how both of those men can bring hell into his life

[jmbarnes101]

Sandman Mystery Theatre...

Can you elaborate more on this?

There's a few things that make this one stand out.

First of all, the main character (Wesley Dodds) isn't your typical superhero, instead he's just a normal guy, a detective, using a gasmask, and a gun that fires sleeping gas. Being a normal human being made it easier for me to identify myself with him. That, plus the combination of the gasmask and the long trench coat make him look awesome.

I also like the drawing style. It looks kinda ugly, filthy even, but it so fits the dark and gritty atmosphere and settings. This is not a children's comic book. It's gritty 1930s detective noir at its best.

I also like the fact that all the stories have a real beginning and end. The individual stories are always limited to just a few issues. Whick makes them easy to pick up as TPBs.

Not for everyone, but definitely worth checking out.

And yes, Spawn is definitely worth checking out also...

Totally recommend Sandman Mystery Theatre as well. What a wonderful book.

Starman by Robinson is a treat as well and now available in 6 beautiful HC's though I don't have the last one yet.

If you're up for something different, try Elephantmen or Godland. Starkings Elephantmen is a series about science gone wrong as animals have been turned into quasi people and need to try and fit in to the world. Godland is Casey and Scioli's wonderful ode to Jack Kirby. Hellboy of course is also an outstanding read.

[jmbarnes101]

Since this is the Comic Book thread, I figure it would be appropriate to ask what's your favorite comic to movie adaptations and why.

Also, I got Superman Red Son and Marvel Zombies but don't worry I will be getting Batman:Black Glove and Superman: Earth One next time I head out. Also does any like Spawn?

Sandman Mystery Theatre...

Can you elaborate more on this?

My favorite comic book movies are all animated. I've never particularly cared for most of the live action stuff since it's so mostly unfaithful to the source material that I can't get into it. Sin City was very good though.

As for the rest, I love the following in no particular order:
Planet Hulk
Superman: Doomsday
Superman/Batman: Apokalypse
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Justice League: A New Frontier
Superman/Shazam! and the rest of the shorts - Green Arrow, Spectre, Jonah Hex
Wonder Woman
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Hellboy: Blood & Iron
Hellboy: Sword of Storms

I haven't seen Green Lantern: First Flight or Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and I didn't care for Batman: Gotham Knights.

Also, a special nod to the great Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animaed Series, and Superman: The Animated Series shows. The original Justice League and Batman Beyond were good as well but just not as good as the other three.

[jmbarnes101]

I apologize for the three posts in a row.

What is your favorite comic series of all-time?
Man, way too many to list but Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo-Crew. It's the only book, so far, I had created for me by having all of the issues bound in a HC.

Others include Elephantmen, Godland, Hellboy, Johns' Flash/JSA/Green Lantern, Busiek's Avengers/Thunderbolts/Astro City, and Waid's Kingdom Come.

What is your favorite currently running comic?

Probably Johns' Green Lantern though I haven't liked the Brighest Day arc as much so far.

Who is your favorite comic publisher (Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Vertigo, IDW, TokyoPop, Viz, etc.)?

DC Comics. I'm enjoying pretty much everything they do lately. In the early 90's it was Marvel with the X-titles and Fantastic Four and than up until Bendis came in and killed off the Avengers. I've tried reading their books but other than DnA's space stories I've been just turned off.

What was your favorite comic storyline/Crossover Event?
Age of Apocalypse was outstanding but I'm going to have to go with the Original Crisis on Infinite Earths. I reread it often and it was just so epic and wide changing that it's been tough to duplicate. DC Challenge, New Frontier, and Rocket Raccoon are other favorite minis and Captain Carrot's "Crisis on Earth C" is also a favorite. I also left out All-Star Superman, Long Halloween and Dark Victory.

Who is your favorite hero/protaganist?

Captain Carrot, Rocket Raccoon, Groot??? Really unsure at the moment.

Who is your favorite villain?

Either the Anti-Monitor or a really well written Darkseid like in the Great Darkness Saga. I loved the Taskmaster costume as a kid though.

Who is your favorite comic writer?

Currently it's got to be Geoff Johns. It seems like I enjoy everything he does and I find myself returning to his stories. I can't wait for the Flash Omnibus to come out.
Previously, it would have been Mark Waid, Kurt Busiek, Roy Thomas' 80's DC work, and Darwyn Cooke.

Who is your favorite comic artist?

This one's pretty easy though a toss up. I just enjoy looking at the work of Tim Sale and Darwyn Cooke. Scott Kolins on the Flash is also a favorite.

[Gamerforlife]

Since this is the Comic Book thread, I figure it would be appropriate to ask what's your favorite comic to movie adaptations and why.

Also, I got Superman Red Son and Marvel Zombies but don't worry I will be getting Batman:Black Glove and Superman: Earth One next time I head out. Also does any like Spawn?

Sandman Mystery Theatre...

Can you elaborate more on this?

My favorite comic book movies are all animated. I've never particularly cared for most of the live action stuff since it's so mostly unfaithful to the source material that I can't get into it. Sin City was very good though.

As for the rest, I love the following in no particular order:
Planet Hulk
Superman: Doomsday
Superman/Batman: Apokalypse
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Justice League: A New Frontier
Superman/Shazam! and the rest of the shorts - Green Arrow, Spectre, Jonah Hex
Wonder Woman
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Hellboy: Blood & Iron
Hellboy: Sword of Storms

I haven't seen Green Lantern: First Flight or Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and I didn't care for Batman: Gotham Knights.

Also, a special nod to the great Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animaed Series, and Superman: The Animated Series shows. The original Justice League and Batman Beyond were good as well but just not as good as the other three.

We have some similar tastes here. There is a few on your list that I haven't seen yet though like the Hellboy movies, Planet Hulk and that new one with Superman and Captain Marvel. Green Lanter: First Flight and Public Enemies were pretty good I thought. Public Enemies has good banter between Superman and Batman, great action and some really hilarious Power Girl jokes. You should try Batman Beyond:Return of the Joker if you haven't seen it. I highly recommend you get the uncut version though. It's kind of a swan song for Batman:The Animated Series. My only complaint with it was that they didn't use Dick Grayson at all in the movie beyond a passing mention of him

I agree that Batman Beyond and Justice League were not quite as awesome as the other three shows you mentioned. Batman Beyond was at its best when it was outside the constraints of the show. Like when they did the Return of the Joker movie(uncut version) or brought Terry into some of the Justice League Unlimited episodes. Justice League started to hit its stride in season 2 I think, but Justice League Unlimited is where the show truly peaked

You know I started watching Gotham Knights and just sort of lost interest. The first short story they showed with those kids swapping stories. I didn't like the art style and I think they did a similar story idea on the actual Batman: Animated series that was much better because it was paying tribute to Batman classics like the dark knight returns.

[elmagicochrisg]

[pakopako]

Waid's Kingdom Come.

This!...

Most of what Waid does is great. (Kinda wished he finished his Marvel version: Universe X.)

[GSZX1337]

While I do enjoy these comics, I just have to rant:

Has anyone read the early Marvel What-If? comics? If so, do you think that they're kind of, shitty? The art is fucking horrible, it looks like someone just hastily sketched drawings that slightly resemble Mr. Fantastic, Bruce Banner, etc. The stories on some of them are ass. The second issue What If the Hulk Had Always Had Bruce Banner's Brain? was pretty cool for about the first half, but then it gets too big for it's britches. Seriously, it has Loki, Gargoyle, and fucking Galctus; and that's just the villains*. Don't even get me started on The X-Man.

*I guess you can count The Thing, too.

The third issue: What If the Avengers Had Never Been? there's a scene where Tony Stark is trying to teach Giant-Man, Rick Jones, and The Wasp to use Iron-Man suits to aid him in fighting the Hulk and the Sub-Mariner. He's having a hard time and gets short with them. Giant-Man, Rick Jones, and The Wasp leave and call Tony an asshole. They refuse to put up with Tony's bitching when the Hulk and The Sub-Mariner are planning to tear the world a new asshole? C'mon.

I know this might sound petty, and that you might be thinking "It's comic book writing, it's going to be bad." I've read several comics from The Silver Age and loved them and their silliness. I even read some of the later What-If?s (like What If Venom Had Absorbed the Punisher?) and loved them. With these comics, it just seems like the writers kept having this problem:

"Alright, we got a good setup for this What-If?, and a good ending, now how do we tie this all together. Wait a minute, that makes no sense! Oh, we have to get this issue printed tomorrow? Oh well."

To end on a positive note, I'm currently reading The Essential Amazing Spider-Man and am loving it. Thanks Hobie for telling me about these.

[pakopako]

Has anyone read the early Marvel What-If? comics?... With these comics, it just seems like the writers kept having this problem: "Alright, we got a good setup for this What-If?, and a good ending, now how do we tie this all together. Wait a minute, that makes no sense! Oh, we have to get this issue printed tomorrow? Oh well."

They weren't all bad, but quite a few looked like filler and some even had multiple stories in them just to kick the reader when they were down.

Some off-the-wall questions (What If... Jane Foster became Thor) weren't so bad. And even through I riff on the multiple story ones, I remember reading (What If... Electra Had Not Died) and thinking it was good but too short.

[Mendoza]

While I do enjoy these comics, I just have to rant:

Has anyone read the early Marvel What-If? comics? If so, do you think that they're kind of, shitty? The art is fucking horrible, it looks like someone just hastily sketched drawings that slightly resemble Mr. Fantastic, Bruce Banner, etc. The stories on some of them are ass. The second issue What If the Hulk Had Always Had Bruce Banner's Brain? was pretty cool for about the first half, but then it gets too big for it's britches. Seriously, it has Loki, Gargoyle, and fucking Galctus; and that's just the villains*. Don't even get me started on The X-Man.

*I guess you can count The Thing, too.

The third issue: What If the Avengers Had Never Been? there's a scene where Tony Stark is trying to teach Giant-Man, Rick Jones, and The Wasp to use Iron-Man suits to aid him in fighting the Hulk and the Sub-Mariner. He's having a hard time and gets short with them. Giant-Man, Rick Jones, and The Wasp leave and call Tony an asshole. They refuse to put up with Tony's bitching when the Hulk and The Sub-Mariner are planning to tear the world a new asshole? C'mon.

I know this might sound petty, and that you might be thinking "It's comic book writing, it's going to be bad." I've read several comics from The Silver Age and loved them and their silliness. I even read some of the later What-If?s (like What If Venom Had Absorbed the Punisher?) and loved them. With these comics, it just seems like the writers kept having this problem:

"Alright, we got a good setup for this What-If?, and a good ending, now how do we tie this all together. Wait a minute, that makes no sense! Oh, we have to get this issue printed tomorrow? Oh well."

To end on a positive note, I'm currently reading The Essential Amazing Spider-Man and am loving it. Thanks Hobie for telling me about these.

What ifs were always hit and miss. The new ones are atrocious though. Most exist soley to show how horrible major events would have ended if the powers at be had not written them the way they are. And some of the writers took the opportunity to just right some weird stuff or super downer stuff because they knew they could get away with it in these non continuity books.

Honestly im surprised the series ran for so long.